Thousands of families in riverine areas remain trapped by floodwater in Lalmonirhat, despite the gradual receding of the Tista River’s water levels after heavy rainfall and upstream flooding.
Significant damage has been reported across multiple districts, with many families still stranded and in need of urgent assistance.
As of 9:00 AM Wednesday, the water level recorded at the Tista Barrage in Hatibandha was 52.7 meters, which is 8 cm below the danger level of 52.15 meters. This marks a gradual decline from Tuesday night, when the water level had risen 7 cm above the danger level, triggering widespread flooding in low-lying areas along the riverbanks.
The sudden rise in water levels submerged Patgram, Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Adhitmari, and Sadar Upazila, with severely affected areas including Dohgram, Goddimari, Doani, Saniyajan, Shailmari, Nohali, Mahishkocha, Gobardhan, and Khuniagach, Kulaghat, and Mogulhat unions.
Boats and bamboo rafts have been used as alternative transport as roads, homes, agricultural lands, and ponds remain submerged. Farmers are bearing the brunt of the disaster, with Aman paddy and other seasonal crops completely submerged, while fish in ponds have floated away.
Abu Taher, a resident of Khuniagach Union, said, “With the sudden rise in Tista’s water, everything around us is submerged. No one can leave their homes, and even the roads are submerged.”
Yakub Ali, a resident of Mahishkocha Union, added, “The water continued to rise last night, so we couldn’t cook. We’ve been without food since this morning, and no one has come to check on us yet.”
The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has attributed the rise in water levels to continuous heavy rainfall in the upstream regions of India. After Tuesday evening, the water flow surged and surpassed the danger mark by night. However, water levels began decreasing from Wednesday morning.
Shunil Kumar, BWDB Executive Engineer for Lalmonirhat, confirmed, “The Tista River water level rose above the danger level last night, inundating some low-lying areas. But from Wednesday morning, the water levels have started to decrease rapidly.”
District Commissioner H.M. Rokib Haider stated that authorities are preparing a list of people trapped by the floodwaters and that relief supplies are already in place. “We will begin distributing them among the affected communities immediately. The situation is being continuously monitored,” he assured.